Post navigation

Last week, I was part of Blossom & Bloom in Markham, an outdoor market that showcases Canadian creative businesses, local florists & artists. I was there as part of Artrepreneur, a program sponsored by the York Region Arts Council. I am halfway through the Artrepreneur program & not only am I learning how to equip myself with business skills to help my creative process, but I am meeting, sharing and collaborating with some extraordinary people. I decided to showcase this new mixed-media canvas, my biggest to date, a 15″ by 30″ mermaid — and she sold!

June is always incredibly busy, and this one is no exception. Both my kids are graduating next week -The Juicer is getting ready for high school, and Miss Know-It-All is graduating from high school! When you are young and you hear people talk about time flying, you never believe them, but boy are they right!

I am very happy to announce that I will once again be an exhibitor during the first 5 days at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto this Christmas — yes, I know you don’t want to here that word right now, just place it in your iCalendar and forget about it.

But until then, I will be doing 2 summers shows, a small art show this Sunday in Vaughan, and during the PAN AM Games at Markham GlobalFest in July. I then do a few shows in the fall leading up to my 4th beyondCRAFT SHOW in November. All the details are located under the, “EVENTS & LOCATIONS” section of the website.

Thank-you to all of you I saw at the Spring One of a Kind Show in Toronto in March. Once again, it was 5 great days of meeting great patrons & fellow exhibitors, not to mention doing a little awesome shopping!

Now I am gearing up for the summer, which along with warm weather (which we ALL deserve), means art & craft shows. I will be updating my “Events & Locations” page here at my blog, as well as announcing new projects. Which brings me to my exciting news. The incredible Jenn Pike & Laura Foster are presenting a Women’s Retreat at the Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre in Wyebridge on September 25-27, and they have invited me to be part of it!

I will be leading a Mala Making Workshop at the “Your Purpose Driven Life Retreat” on the Saturday night. Please watch the video below to find out more about this incredible journey.

You may notice over the next few months that I am gradually changing my name from “lil’things by nadya” to “nadya edwards”. Although I love the former name, I feel it is time to streamline & simplify.

It may not seem it, but one day soon, we will be able to have exposed flesh outside for longer than a millisecond before succumbing to frost bite. And with that in mind, the Spring One of a Kind Show is just around the corner. Click on the link to save $3 when you purchase your tickets online. These are my new moo business cards that just arrived! What do you think?

Back in November I ran the Buddha Workshop at Simplicity Yoga. It was a 3 hour mixed-media class in which students started with a blank 8×10 inch canvas and ended up with a beautifully collaged, painted & inked uniquely theirs piece of art. Fun was had by all, and even though it was scheduled for 2 hours, we really needed the 3 hours to really enjoy the process.

I will be running another workshop on February 6th, this time we will be using the lotus flower as our focus. So if you missed out on the first class, you have a second chance! There are still a few spots left. Contact Simplicity Yoga.

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone found a little time to relax and do something just for themselves over the holidays.

I have decided to explore several different art adventures this year and show you my progress along the way. The above painting is week 1 of Life Book 2015. She is my “Beacon of Light” for the year and my anthem is “be fearless”. I love her! I am also going to commit to art journaling, and to help me with that I have joined the Documented Life Project.

Here is a custom piece I finished over the holidays for a sweet girl. I thank the amazing Micki Wilde for her inspiration.

Thank-you to all those who came out to the Xmas One of a Kind Show. It was a wildly exciting & exhausting 6 days. I met wonderful patrons & follow exhibitors, and of course came away with some beautiful stuff! Some are presents so I can’t show them, but here’s a sample.

I write this as the white stuff is lightly falling outside my window, a gentle reminder of what is to come. And with that said, someone is bound to count the days on a calendar, and start the countdown to the holiday season.

Next week, the beyondCRAFT show & sale begins! I will have many new mixed-media pieces there, as well as new cards, jewellery & a few surprises. This is a great event in a fabulous location.

I was honoured to find one of my mermaids gracing the front page of the Stouffville Free Press, advertising the show. I still can’t believe it’s the front page! Speaking of big, I am in the midst of creating more mermaids on bigger canvases, which although a little scary, seems to be working out well. Below are 2 new canvases I recently finished.

I love autumn. New beginnings and a time for change. The days get shorter, mornings are cool and all the shades of yellows, oranges and reds are seen from my windows.

It also means Arts & Crafts Shows season! That means that I am busy creating. The Georgina Studio Tour was a blast. Probably the most perfect weekend — thank-you to all the wonderful people who stopped by Homestead Orchards to visit (and to buy apple pie).

I am preparing for beyondCRAFT Show & Sale which starts in little over a month, at the Latcham Gallery in Stouffville. If you have never been, it is a great show — like a mini One of a Kind. Speaking of which yes, I am getting ready for my first Christmas One of a Kind. Remember if you are going to the show, I am there during the second half, December 2nd to the 7th.

Here are some of my newer canvases. As you can tell, this home quote is a favourite of mine. It seems to resonate with many other people too, so it is a keeper.

I am also enjoying my woodland girl canvases. I think a boy is next — perhaps a couple?

And the girls are so much fun to create. I love the texture of her hair.

This weekend is the Georgina Studio Tour and I am still not quite believing I am on it! Partnered up with the very talented painter Thelma Sellers, we are upstairs at Homestead Orchards Barn Store, 3961 Old Homestead Road in Sutton or location “S” on the tour map. The tour runs this Saturday & Sunday, from 10am to 5pm both days. Looks like this weekend is shaping up to be sunny and warm, so if you are in the mood for some good art, we’d love to see you!

FYI, as we were setting up tonight, the delicious aroma of apple pies baking were wafting up through the floorboards to us — we could hardly stand it, so even if you just feel the need for a good apple pie, this is the place to get it!